The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), the leading advocate for improving education and standards of feline care, announced the launch of the Cat Friendly Certificate Program for veterinary professionals. The program offers veterinarians and their staff an opportunity to earn a certificate demonstrating their feline knowledge, skills, and best in-clinic practices in caring for cats.
What is involved in the program?
There are three certificates available:
- Cat Friendly Veterinarian
- Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional, intended for technicians and veterinary nurses that work directly with cats
- Cat Friendly Advocate, intended for veterinary assistants, front office staff, practice managers and others in the veterinary profession
“The Cat Friendly Certificate Program was created to address the needs of individuals in the veterinary community in order to increase their personal feline knowledge and skills,” said Heather O’Steen, CAE, CEO of the AAPF. “We know not all practices are able to complete the Cat Friendly Practice® program, so this certificate allows those interested in increasing the standards of care for cats to learn more, and highlight their commitment on an individual level.”
Benefits of the program for veterinary professionals
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- Enhances the ability to fulfill client and patient needs
- Builds confidence in working with cats
- Demonstrates a personal commitment to feline health
- Helps practices develop talent and understanding of cats
- Reinforces the important role feline knowledge and understanding plays in the practice
- Increases the ability to showcase feline expertise while contributing to professional development efforts
Benefits of the program for cat parents
I really love the idea behind this program. In most cases, I would consider a feline-only veterinary hospital the best choice for cat parents, with a certified Cat Friendly Practice® being the next best thing. However, there are many wonderful veterinary professionals in clinics that don’t specialize in cats only, and this program gives practices who are not able to complete the Cat Friendly Practice® program an opportunity to really show their commitment to caring for cats, while at the same time giving staff members who love working with cats an opportunity to further build their feline skills.
This sounds like a win-win to me for both clients and staff, but the ultimate winners are the cats who will receive better care in a less stressful environment.
For more information about the Cat Friendly Certificate Program, visit https://catvets.com/cfp/cat-friendly-certificate-program
